Topline
The National Transportation Safety Board on Monday shared details about the Amazon cargo plane crash at the Miami International Airport over the weekend, noting that the plane overshot the runway and struck a cleaning crew van, killing five on board.
A parking lot filled with Tesla Cybercabs is seen in the foreground as the nose of a Prime Air cargo plane rests on the ground after the aircraft overran the runway and struck cars the previous day at Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida.
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
In a press briefing, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said the cargo plane overran the runway upon landing back from San Juan and “struck navigational aids and equipment.”
The plane then impacted a van operated by a cleaning service, resulting in the death of five of the seven people inside the vehicle.
After breaking through a perimeter fence, the plane struck an SUV outside the airport, but it’s unclear how many people were inside this vehicle.
Homendy said there were two crew members on board the plane at the time of the accident but said the NTSB can’t comment on their health status and will leave that to local authorities.
The NTSB chair noted that investigators were able to recover the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder—commonly referred to as the “black boxes”—from the plane.
According to local officials, five other people were injured in the crash and three of them were taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Crucial Quote
When asked to describe the scene of the crash, Homendy said: “I would describe it in one word as devastating, utter devastation. I mean, you can see on the paved surface tire marks that continue through the grass. There’s debris everywhere, the…van is torn apart…The SUV, you can see airbags, the surrounding airbags…It’s pretty extensive. Hard to see, and I’m sure it must have been very difficult for the responders as well.”
What To Watch For
Homendy refused to divulge too many other details about the accident but noted that the NTSB will hold another press briefing on Tuesday. When asked about the aircraft’s speed, she said the agency may share that detail on Tuesday after checking with the flight data recorder. She also noted that the agency will conduct interviews with the plane’s crew and others to learn more about the landing.
key background
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, as a Boeing 767-300 with Amazon’s livery overran the runway at Miami International Airport. News footage emerging from the crash showed billowing black smoke around the plane, and the FAA immediately issued a ground stop at the airport for “disabled aircraft on the runway.” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel told Forbes that the company was working with local officials to determine what happened and prioritizing the “safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved.” The aircraft was an Amazon Air flight operated by 21 Air.
further reading
Amazon Cargo Plane Crashes At Miami International Airport (Forbes)
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